Heat Shrink Device for a Bottom of a Sleeve Label

ABSTRACT

A heat shrink device includes a front conveyor, a baker, and a rear conveyor mounted on a frame in sequence. Left and right conveyors are respectively located on two sides of the frame and are located above the front and rear conveyors. Each of the left and right conveyors gradually declines from a front end thereof towards a rear end thereof. A container wrapped with a sleeve label can be conveyed rearward by an upper run of the front conveyor. The left and right conveyors together clamp and convey the container and the sleeve label rearward. The left and right conveyors gradually push a bottom of the sleeve label beyond a bottom face of the container. The baker bakes the bottom of the sleeve label to cause the bottom of the sleeve label to heat shrink and envelope a peripheral area of the bottom face of the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heat shrink device for a bottom of asleeve label and, more particularly, to a heat shrink device for heatshrinking a bottom of a sleeve label to envelope a peripheral area of abottom face of a container.

A conventional sleeve label heat shrink device uses a roll of sleevelabels printed with figures and words. The roll of sleeve labels isautomatically moved and cut into a plurality of sleeve labels of apredetermined size. Each sleeve label is placed around a container, suchas a can or a bottle, and is then fixed on the container by heatshrinking.

Such a heat shrink device includes a frame having a central post toexpand the roll of sleeve labels, which is conveyed downward by aguiding mechanism and then cut by a cutter into a plurality of sleevelabels of the predetermined size so as to be placed around cylindricalor parallelepiped containers. Each container is passed through a bakerto heat shrink the sleeve label and, thus, engages the sleeve label on apredetermined location of the container.

The sleeve label wrapping operation of the heat shrink device isautomatic and continuous, significantly increasing the working speed.However, the sleeve label can only be wrapped around the upper, middle,and bottom portions of the outer periphery of the container forsubsequent positioning by heat shrinking. The bottom face of thecontainer can not be automatically wrapped at the same time unlessmanual operation is provided to pull the bottom of the sleeve labelbeyond the bottom face of the container and then heat shrink the bottomof sleeve label to envelope the bottom face of the container. However,the manual operation adversely affects the packaging quality, consumesconsiderable manpower, and reduces the yield.

Thus, a need exists for a novel heat shrink device for heat shrinking abottom of a sleeve label to envelope a peripheral area of a bottom faceof a container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a heatshrink device for automatically pushing a bottom of a sleeve labelbeyond a bottom face of a container and automatically heat shrinking thebottom of a sleeve label to envelope a peripheral area of the bottomface of the container, effectively increasing the operational efficiencyand quality of the heat shrink device, saving manpower and time, andincreasing the yield.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a heatshrink device including a frame having a front end and a rear end spacedfrom the front end in a longitudinal direction. A front conveyor ismounted on the front end of the frame. The front conveyor moves along anannular path and has an upper run. The upper run of the front conveyoris adapted to convey a container wrapped with a sleeve label rearward. Arear conveyor is mounted on the rear end of the frame and is spaced fromthe front conveyor in the longitudinal direction. The rear conveyormoves along an annular path and has an upper run. The upper run of therear conveyor is adapted to convey the container wrapped with the sleevelabel rearward. A baker is mounted between and spaced from the front andrear conveyors. The baker includes a top end having a baking openinglocated below front and rear conveyors in a height directionperpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Left and right conveyorsare respectively located on left and right sides of the frame and arelocated above the front and rear conveyors in the height directionperpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The left and rightconveyors are spaced from each other in a width direction perpendicularto the longitudinal direction and the height direction. Each of the leftand right conveyors moves along an annular path. The left conveyorincludes an inner run facing the right conveyor and moving rearward. Theright conveyor includes an inner run facing the left conveyor and movingrearward. Each of the left and right conveyors gradually declines from afront end thereof towards a rear end thereof.

A container wrapped with a sleeve label can be conveyed rearward by theupper run of the front conveyor, with a bottom face of the containerlocated on the front conveyor. The left and right conveyors are adaptedto together clamp the container and the sleeve label wrapped around thecontainer and are adapted to convey the container rearward toward therear conveyor. The left and right conveyors are adapted to graduallypush the sleeve label downward to expose a bottom of the sleeve labelbeyond the bottom face of the container. The baker is adapted to bakethe bottom of the sleeve label passing above the baking opening to causethe bottom of the sleeve label to heat shrink and envelope a peripheralarea of the bottom face of the container.

Preferably, the front, rear, left, and right conveyors movesynchronously.

In an embodiment, each of the left and right conveyors includes asupport. The support of each of the left and right conveyors includes aplurality of rollers and a transmission wheel to tension and drive acorresponding one of the left and right conveyors.

In an embodiment, a sliding seat is pivotably mounted to each of twoends of each of the plurality of rollers of each of the left and rightconveyors. The support of each of the left and right conveyors includesa plurality of guiding grooves receiving the sliding seats of acorresponding one of the left and right conveyors. A spring is mountedin each of the plurality of guiding grooves and biases a correspondingone of the plurality of rollers and a corresponding one of the slidingseats to tension a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors.

In an embodiment, the heat shrink device further includes a motor, agearbox connected to the motor, and two transmission shafts connected tothe gearbox. The transmission shafts rotate in different directions. Thetransmission shafts are connected to and drive the left and rightconveyors via the transmission wheels, respectively.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat shrink device for a bottom of asleeve label according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of left and right conveyors of the heatshrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1, illustratingadjustment of a spacing between the left and right conveyors.

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating operation of the heat shrink device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along section line A-A of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along section line B-B of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along section line C-C of FIG.7.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along section line D-D of FIG.7.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along section line E-E of FIG.7.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along section line F-F of FIG.7.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a container wrapped with a sleeve labelby the shrink heat device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a heat shrink device according to thepresent invention includes a frame 1 having a front end and a rear endspaced from the front end in a longitudinal direction. The frame 1includes a plurality of legs 11 and a base 12.

A front conveyor 2 is mounted on the front end of the frame 1. The frontconveyor 2 includes a rail 21 also mounted on the frame 1. The frontconveyor 2 is fixed by legs 22. The front conveyor 2 moves along anannular path and has an upper run. The upper run of the front conveyor 2is adapted to convey a container 8 rearward (toward the rear end of theframe 1). A transmission device (not shown) is mounted in the rail 21 todrive the front conveyor 2 to move along its annular path.

A rear conveyor 3 is mounted on the rear end of the frame 1 and isspaced from the front conveyor 2 in the longitudinal direction. The rearconveyor 3 includes a rail 31 also mounted on the frame 1. The rearconveyor 3 is fixed by legs 32. The rear conveyor 3 moves along anannular path and has an upper run. The upper run of the rear conveyor 3is adapted to carry a container with a sleeve label rearward (away fromthe front end of the frame 1). A transmission device (not shown) ismounted in the rail 31 to drive the rear conveyor 3 to move along itsannular path.

A baker 4 is mounted between and spaced from the front and rearconveyors 2 and 3 and is fixed in the frame 1 by a bracket 42. The baker4 includes a top end having a baking opening 41 located below front andrear conveyors 2 and 3 in a height direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction.

Left and right conveyors 5 and 6 are respectively located on left andright sides of the frame 1 and are located above the front and rearconveyors 2 and 3 in the height direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction. The left and right conveyors 5 and 6 are spacedfrom each other in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection and the height direction. Each of the left and right conveyors5 and 6 moves along an annular path. The left conveyor 5 includes aninner run facing the right conveyor 6 and moving rearward (toward therear conveyor 3). The right conveyor 6 includes an inner run facing theleft conveyor 5 and moving rearward (toward the rear conveyor 3). Eachof the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 gradually declines from a frontend thereof towards a rear end thereof.

With reference to FIGS. 5-8, according to the form shown, each of theleft and right conveyors 5 and 6 includes a support 51, 61. The support51, 61 of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 includes aplurality of rollers 52, 62 and a transmission wheel 53, 63 to tensionand drive a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. Asliding seat 54, 64 is pivotably mounted to each of two ends of eachroller 52, 62 of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. Thesupport 51, 61 of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 includesa plurality of guiding grooves 511, 611 receiving the sliding seats 54,64 of a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. Acover 56, 66 is fixed by a bolt 561, 661 to each of an upper side and alower side of the support 51, 61 of each of the left and right conveyors5 and 6. A spring 55, 65 is mounted in each guiding groove 511, 611 andbiases a corresponding one of the rollers 52, 62 and a corresponding oneof the sliding seats 54, 64 to tension a corresponding one of the leftand right conveyors 5 and 6 in the width direction. The front, rear,left, and right conveyors 2, 3, 5, and 6 move synchronously.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, according to the form shown, each of theleft and right conveyors 5 and 6 is provided with a height adjustingmechanism 57, 67 having a hand wheel 571, 671 that can be operated torotate a screw rod to proceed with height adjustment. Furthermore, eachof the right conveyors 5 and 6 is provided with a spacing adjustingmechanism 58, 68 having a hand wheel 581, 681 that can be operated torotate a screw rod to proceed with adjustment of a spacing between theleft and right conveyors 5 and 6. Thus, the container 8 wrapped with asleeve label 81 can be clamped by the inner runs of the left and rightconveyors 5 and 6 and conveyed rearward toward the rear conveyor 3.

The declination angle of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6can be in a range between 1 and 3 degrees. It can be appreciated thatthe height adjustment mechanism 57 and 67 can be operated to adjust thedeclination angles of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 by adjustingthe heights of the supports 51 and 61, such that each of the left andright conveyors 5 and 6 gradually decline from the front end thereoftowards the rear end thereof.

A motor 7 is mounted on a lower section of the base 12 of the frame 1(FIGS. 1-3) to drive the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. The motor 7is connected to a gearbox 71, which, in turn, is connected to and drivestwo transmission shafts 72 and 73. The transmission shafts 72 and 73rotate in different directions and are respectively connected to theleft and right conveyors 5 and 6 via the transmission wheels 53 and 63.Thus, each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 moves along theannular path and gradually declines from the front end thereof towardthe rear end thereof. The inner runs of the left and right conveyors 5and 6 move rearward.

In use of the heat shrink device according to the present invention, thespacing adjusting mechanisms 58 and 68 are operated to adjust thespacing between the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. The front, rear,left, and right conveyors 2, 3, 5, and 6 move synchronously. A container8 wrapped with a sleeve label 81 rests on the front conveyor 2 and isconveyed rearward toward the rear conveyor 3 (FIGS. 7 and 8). A bottomface 82 of the container 8 is located on the upper run of the frontconveyor 2. A bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 rests on the upper run ofthe front conveyor 2.

The left and right conveyors 5 and 6 together clamp the container 8 andthe sleeve label 81 around the container 8 to carry the container 8rearward toward the rear conveyor 3. Since each of the left and rightconveyors 5 and 6 gradually declines from the front end thereof towardthe rear end thereof, the left and right conveyors 5 gradually push thesleeve label 81 downward such that the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81becomes wavy (see FIGS. 7, 9, and 10).

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 11, after the container 8 has passed thefront conveyor 2, the container 8 is clamped by the left and rightconveyors 5 and 6 and hangs in the air. Thus, the bottom 83 of thesleeve label 81 restores its shape and extends beyond the bottom face 82of the container 8.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 12, and 14, when the container 8 is movedrearward by the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 to pass above thebaking opening 41 of the baker 4, the baker 4 bakes the bottom 83 of thesleeve label 81 to cause the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 to heatshrink and envelope a peripheral area of the bottom face 82 of thecontainer 8.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 13, the container 8 is moved rearward bythe left and right conveyors 5 and 6 onto the rear conveyor 3 and passesthrough the heat shrink device. Since the bottom 83 of the sleeve label81 has shrunk and enveloped the peripheral area of the bottom face 82 ofthe container 8, the sleeve label 8 will not be pushed downward. Then,the container 8 wrapped with the sleeve label 81 passes through anotherbaker (not shown) to bake and heat shrink the upper, middle, and lowersections of the sleeve label 8 around the peripheral of the container 8.In view of the foregoing, the heat shrink device solves thedisadvantages of the conventional devices by pushing the bottom 83 ofthe sleeve label 81 beyond the bottom face 82 of the container 8 and byheat shrinking the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 to envelope theperipheral area of the bottom face 82 of the container 8, effectivelyincreasing the operational efficiency and quality of the heat shrinkdevice, saving manpower and time, and increasing the yield.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications and variations are still possible withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention islimited by the accompanying claims.

1. A heat shrink device comprising: a frame including a front end and arear end spaced from the front end in a longitudinal direction; a frontconveyor mounted on the front end of the frame, with the front conveyormoving along an annular path and having an upper run, with the upper runof the front conveyor adapted to convey a container wrapped with asleeve label rearward; a rear conveyor mounted on the rear end of theframe and spaced from the front conveyor in the longitudinal direction,with the rear conveyor moving along an annular path and having an upperrun, with the upper run of the rear conveyor adapted to convey thecontainer wrapped with the sleeve label rearward; a baker mountedbetween and spaced from the front and rear conveyors, with the bakerincluding a top end having a baking opening located below front and rearconveyors in a height direction perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection; and left and right conveyors respectively located on left andright sides of the frame and located above the front and rear conveyorsin the height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,with the left and right conveyors spaced from each other in a widthdirection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the heightdirection, with each of the left and right conveyors moving along anannular path, with the left conveyor including an inner run facing theright conveyor and moving rearward, with the right conveyor including aninner run facing the left conveyor and moving rearward, and with each ofthe left and right conveyors gradually declining from a front endthereof towards a rear end thereof, with a container wrapped with asleeve label adapted to be conveyed rearward by the upper run of thefront conveyor, with a bottom face of the container located on the frontconveyor, with the left and right conveyors adapted to together clampthe container and the sleeve label wrapped around the container andadapted to convey the container rearward toward the rear conveyor, andwith the left and right conveyors adapted to gradually push the sleevelabel downward to expose a bottom of the sleeve label beyond the bottomface of the container, and with the baker adapted to bake the bottom ofthe sleeve label passing above the baking opening to cause the bottom ofthe sleeve label to heat shrink and envelope a peripheral area of thebottom face of the container.
 2. The heat shrink device as claimed inclaim 1, with the front, rear, left, and right conveyors movingsynchronously.
 3. The heat shrink device as claimed in claim 1, witheach of the left and right conveyors including a support, and with thesupport of each of the left and right conveyors including a plurality ofrollers and a transmission wheel to tension and drive a correspondingone of the left and right conveyors.
 4. The heat shrink device asclaimed in claim 3, with a sliding seat pivotably mounted to each of twoends of each of the plurality of rollers of each of the left and rightconveyors, with the support of each of the left and right conveyorsincluding a plurality of guiding grooves receiving the sliding seats ofa corresponding one of the left and right conveyors, and with a springmounted in each of the plurality of guiding grooves and biasing acorresponding one of the plurality of rollers and a corresponding one ofthe sliding seats to tension a corresponding one of the left and rightconveyors.
 5. The heat shrink device as claimed in claim 3, furthercomprising: a motor, a gearbox connected to the motor, and twotransmission shafts connected to the gearbox, with the two transmissionshafts rotating in different directions, and with the two transmissionshafts connected to and driving the left and right conveyors via thetransmission wheels, respectively.